A. Loud noise areas. Any place in the town where any unreasonably loud, discordant, and unnecessary sound conditions, including sounds from vehicles, equipment, machinery, guns, fireworks, or enclosed domestic or other animals, or from any human-created or -aided sounds, including alleged music, is located on private or public land without written approval of the town board and is not timely removed or discontinued within _____ [state time limit] of the written receipt of notice to remove from the town board.
B. Disorderly conduct area. Any place in the town where unpermitted, abusive, indecent, profane, or boisterous sounds, unpermitted fighting, brawling, or rioting, or other unpermitted disorderly conduct conditions, are located or occur on private or public lands and these disorderly conditions are not timely removed or discontinued within _____ [state time limit] of receipt of written notice to remove from the town board.
SECTION VIII – PUBLIC MORALS OR DECENCY
No person may create, continue, erect, maintain, cause, continue, install, construct, or permit to exist in the town a public nuisance associated with, causing, or likely to cause danger, disturbance, or injury to public morals or decency. The following acts, uses, activities, things, occupations, places, or physical conditions not properly and timely removed by the owner or occupant of the land after written notice to remove from the town board to the owner or occupant of the land where the public nuisance occurs, or to any person responsible for the creation, maintenance, or permitting of such nuisance in the town, are specifically declared to be a public nuisance as follows:
A.
Bawdyhouses. Pursuant to
s. 823.09, Wis. stats., whoever erects, establishes, continues, maintains, uses, occupies, or leases any building or part of a building, erection, or place to be used for the purpose of lewdness, assignation, or prostitution, or permits the same to be so used, in the town, is guilty of a nuisance and the building, erection, or place in or upon which such lewdness, assignation, or prostitution is conducted, permitted, carried on, continued, or exists, and the furniture, fixtures, musical instruments, and contents used therewith for the same purpose, are declared a nuisance, and shall be enjoined and abated.
B.
Illegal drug houses. Pursuant to
s. 823.113 (1), Wis. stats., any building or structure that is used to facilitate the delivery, distribution, or manufacture, as defined in
s. 961.01 (6),
(9), and
(13), Wis. stats., respectively, of a controlled substance as defined in
s. 961.01 (4), Wis. stats., or a controlled substance analog as defined in
s. 961.01 (4m), Wis. stats., and any building or structure where those acts take place, is a public nuisance and may be proceeded against under
s. 823.113, Wis. stats.
C.
Criminal gang houses. Pursuant to
s. 823.113 (1), Wis. stats., any building or structure that is used as a meeting place of a criminal gang, as defined in
s. 939.22 (9), Wis. stats., or that is used to facilitate the activities of a criminal gang, is a public nuisance and may be proceeded against under
s. 823.113, Wis. stats.
D.
Gambling houses. Pursuant to
s. 823.20, Wis. stats., any gambling place, as defined in
s. 945.01 (4) (a), Wis. stats., is a public nuisance and may be proceeded against under
chapter 823, Wis. stats.
E.
Illegal alcohol houses. Pursuant to
s. 125.14 (5), Wis. stats., any building or place where alcohol beverages or alcohol is sold, possessed, stored, brewed, bottled, manufactured, or rectified without a valid permit or license issued under
chapter 125 or
139, Wis. stats., or where persons are permitted to drink alcohol beverages in violation of
chapter 125, Wis. stats., is a public nuisance and may be closed until the activity in violation of
chapter 125, Wis. stats., is abated. When the activity is abated, the building or place may be used for any lawful purpose.
SECTION IX - ABANDONED VEHICLES, MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT, AND APPLIANCES ON PUBLIC LANDS
No person shall leave unattended or stored any vehicle, regardless of the vehicle's physical condition, registration, or license held, any appliance, equipment, or machinery, or parts thereof, on any public street, public road, public highway, or other public property in the town, including the road right-of-way, for such time and under such circumstances as to cause the vehicle, appliance, equipment, or machinery to reasonably appear to have been abandoned. When any vehicle, machinery, appliances, or equipment has been left unattended, parked, or stored on any public street, road, highway, or other public property, including a road right-of-way, within the town for a period of more than 72 hours, the vehicle, structure, machinery, appliances, or equipment is presumed by the town to be abandoned and a public nuisance and may be removed in accordance with
s. 342.40, Wis. stats., and the owner of the vehicle is subject to the imposition of forfeitures under Section XIII of this ordinance. This section does not apply to a railroad train stopped at a railway crossing as defined in
s. 340.01 (47), Wis. stats.
SECTION X - EXEMPTIONS AND PERMITS
A. Exemptions. 1. Any storage of junked vehicles or junked vehicle parts on private lands in the town that is in conformity with local zoning and land use regulation for which the owners, operators, or persons otherwise responsible for the storage of the vehicles or parts have been issued a permit and met the Junked Vehicle Permit requirements established by the town board in the Town Junked Vehicle Ordinance adopted under
s. 175.25, Wis. stats., and the town's village powers under
s. 60.22, Wis. stats., is exempt from the provisions of Section VI, subsection N, applicable to storage of junked vehicles and junked vehicle parts. The exemption granted under this paragraph is strictly limited to the extent allowed by the permit.
**
2.
Any operation of a junkyard on private lands in the town that is in conformity with local zoning and land use regulation for which the owners, operators, or persons otherwise responsible for the operation of the junkyard have obtained all the proper and necessary federal, state, county, town, and extraterritorial municipal approvals, permits, or licenses for the operation or have obtained licenses for operation of a junkyard on that privately owned premise under
s. 84.31, Wis. stats., is exempt from the provisions of Section VI, subsection O, applicable to junked vehicles, junked machinery, junked appliances, or junked equipment and parts thereof. The exemption granted under this paragraph is strictly limited to the extent allowed by the approvals, permits, or licenses.
3.
Any commercial motor vehicle salvage or motor vehicle retail sales business on private lands in the town that is in conformity with local zoning and land use regulation for which the owners, operators, or persons otherwise responsible for the conduct of the business hold a current motor vehicle salvage dealer license under
s. 218.205, Wis. stats., authorizing storage uses, operations, and activities at property locations in the town or hold a current motor vehicle dealer license under
s. 218.0114, Wis. stats., for salvage, sale, or storage operation and activities at a property location in the town, and are actively engaged in the town, as determined in writing by the town board, in the commercial motor vehicle salvage or motor vehicle retail sales business on property in the town is exempt from the provisions of Section VI, subsection O, applicable to junked vehicles, junked machinery, junked appliances, or junked equipment and parts thereof. The exemption granted under this paragraph is strictly limited to the extent allowed by the applicable license.
4.
Any business engaged in the retail sales of manufactured homes, mobile homes, camper trailers, or recreational vehicles on private lands in the town that is in conformity with local zoning and land use regulation for which the owners, operators, or persons otherwise responsible for the conduct of the business hold a current and valid manufactured home dealers license under
s. 101.951, Wis. stats., or a current and valid recreational vehicle dealers license under
s. 218.12, Wis. stats., issued by the State of Wisconsin, and are actively engaged in the town, as determined in writing by the town board, in the business of commercial retail sales of manufactured homes, mobile homes, camper trailers, or recreational vehicles on property in the town is exempt from Section VI, subsection O, applicable to junked vehicles, junked machinery, junked appliances, or junked equipment and parts thereof. The exemption granted under this paragraph is strictly limited to the extent allowed by the applicable license.
5. Any parking, storage, or other keeping outside of buildings in the town of ________ [insert maximum number not requiring permit] or fewer unlicensed or unregistered vehicles or _____ [insert maximum number not requiring permit] or fewer boats, snowmobiles, or all-terrain vehicles, not registered with the State of Wisconsin, on private lands owned or leased by the owner or leaseholder of the vehicles that is in conformity with local zoning and land use regulation, even if the vehicles are not stored for purposes of sale or repair, is exempt from the provisions of Section VI, subsection P, relating to the keeping and storage of unlicensed or unregistered vehicles.
6. Any parking, storage, or other keeping of any agricultural use vehicles in the open on private lands in the town that is in conformity with local zoning and land use regulation by the owner or leaseholder of the land, if the vehicles are and can be used by the owner or leaseholder, without repair, for normal agricultural use in the town is exempt from the provisions of Section VI, subsection O, applicable to junked vehicles, junked machinery, junked appliances, or junked equipment and parts thereof. Notwithstanding anything contained in this paragraph, storage of inoperable junk or other unrepaired agricultural use vehicles on private property of any person for more than _____ [state time limit] in the open shall be deemed a violation of Section VI, subsection O, unless the storage is at a commercial implement repair location where the equipment or implements can and will be timely repaired and removed from the premise.
B. Permits. 1. Upon proper and timely application by an owner or occupant of the premises in the town to the town clerk for a permit, and after a public hearing held by the town board, the town board may permit on public or private lands in the town, with or without conditions and restrictions, any of the following:
a. The storage in the open on private premises of vehicles, structures, machinery, appliances, or equipment in the town that are subject to Section VI.
b. The maintenance of buildings, structures, or dwellings in the town that are subject to Section VI.
c. The storage, disposal, treatment, or discharge of items, waste, and materials in the town that are subject to Section VI.
2. A permit under this subsection B may be issued by the town board regardless of the ownership or possession rights to the vehicles, implements, machinery, structures, equipment, appliances, buildings, structures, dwellings, items, waste, or materials to be stored, maintained, disposed, treated, or discharged.
3. The applicant shall be notified of the public hearing required under paragraph 1 at least 20 days before the public hearing by the mailing by U.S. mail of a First Class notice letter to the last known address of the applicant noted on the application.
4. The permit shall be for a specific location, may be established for a term of months or years, and may be reissued upon application by the permit holder if the permit holder is in full compliance with this ordinance and with the permit conditions and restrictions as issued.
5. The conditions and restrictions, if any, in the permit established by the town board for any permitted storage, maintenance, disposal, treatment, or discharge shall be reasonable restrictions and conditions to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of persons within the town and to limit or negate potential public nuisances caused by the permitted storage, maintenance, disposal, treatment, or discharge. The conditions and restrictions shall be stated in writing and attached to the written permit upon issuance by the town board.
6. The owner or occupant of the permitted premises is responsible for compliance with the conditions and restrictions in the permit issued regardless of whether the owner or occupant of the premises has any legal or equitable interest in the vehicles, structures, machinery, appliances, or equipment subject to the permit.
SECTION XI – ABATEMENT OF PUBLIC NUISANCES/PERMIT REVOCATION
A. Inspection of Premises. 1. Whenever a complaint is made to the town board, town clerk, town chair, or any appropriate town committee or agent that a public nuisance under this ordinance or a violation of a permit issued under this ordinance exists within the town, the town chair, town committee, or other agents of the town board shall promptly inspect or cause to be inspected the premises complained of and shall make a written report of its findings to the town board, which report shall thereafter be filed with the town clerk and kept of record in the office of the town clerk. Whenever practicable, the town chair, town committee, or other agents of the town board shall cause photographs to be made of the premises for inclusion in the written report to the town board.
2.
If the person subject to complaint holds a current permit under this ordinance, or any Town Building Permit or Junked Vehicle Permit issued under
s. 175.25, Wis. stats., and the town's village powers under
s. 60.22, Wis. stats., the town chair, the town committee or other agents of the town board may immediately request the town board to hold a public hearing to consider suspension or revocation of the permit for refusal to comply with the permit conditions and this ordinance. The town board shall hold a public hearing prior to taking any action to revoke or suspend a permit. The permit holder shall be notified of the public hearing at least 20 days before the public hearing by the mailing by U.S. mail of a First Class notice letter to the last known address of the permit holder noted on the permit or permit application.
3. The town board may, in the alternative to revocation, suspend any issued permit for a period up to 6 months. Any revocation shall be for a period in excess of 6 months and no reapplication can be received or acted upon by the town board for the premises or for the owner or occupant of the premises for any activity, use, or item prohibited by or requiring a permit under this ordinance during the revocation period.
4. For any decision regarding the revocation or suspension of any permit, the town board shall determine and state the reason or reasons for any revocation, nonrevocation, or suspension of the permit based on the lack of compliance with the permit conditions and this ordinance by the permit holder or by any employees or agents of the permit holder. The reason or reasons for the decision shall be stated in writing and sent to the permit holder within 10 days after the decision by the town board by mailing by U.S. mail of a First Class letter to the last known address of the permit holder noted on the permit or permit application.
B. Owner of Premises Responsibility. Any owner or occupant of land in the town is responsible for compliance with this ordinance on the owner's or occupant's land regardless of ownership of and responsibility for the uses, activities, or things located on the land that are subject to this ordinance.
C. Summary Abatement. 1. Notice to Owner. If the town chair, town committee, or other agents of the town board determine, by written notice to the town board, that a public nuisance exists under this ordinance within the town on private or public land and that there is great, immediate, and substantial danger or threat to the public health or safety, the town board, town chair, town committee, or other agents of the town board shall serve a written order upon the person who is causing, permitting, or maintaining the public nuisance, and the owner or occupant of the premises where the public nuisance is caused, permitted, or maintained. If immediate personal service cannot be made, one copy of the written notice shall be posted on the premises in a location likely to attract the attention of the owner or occupant of the premises or the person who is causing, permitting, or maintaining the public nuisance, and one copy of the notice shall be served by mailing by U.S. mail of a First Class letter to the last known address for the owner or occupant of the premises. The order notice shall direct the owner or occupant to remove the public nuisance within 24 hours and shall state that unless the public nuisance is so timely abated, the town may cause, due to the emergency conditions, the public nuisance to be abated and shall charge the costs of abatement to the owner, occupant, or person causing, permitting, or maintaining the public nuisance.
2. Abatement by town. If the public nuisance is not abated within the time provided in the notice under paragraph 1 or if the owner, occupant, or person causing the public nuisance, if known, cannot be found, the town chair, the town committee, or other agents of the town board, with approval of the town board, shall cause the abatement or removal of the public nuisance by immediately seeking for the town a court order that allows for the immediate enjoinment and abatement of the public nuisance.
D. Abatement By Court Action. If the town board determines that a public nuisance exists on public or private premises but that the nature of the nuisance does not threaten great, immediate, and substantial danger to the public health or safety, the town board shall file a written report or its resolution of its findings with the town clerk who shall, after approval and filing of the report or resolution by the town board, take one or more of the following actions, as directed by the town board:
1. Issue and serve a written order to cease and desist the public nuisance upon the person causing, permitting, or maintaining the public nuisance and the owner or occupant of the premises where the public nuisance is located.
2. Issue and serve a citation for violation of this ordinance upon the person causing, permitting, or maintaining the public nuisance and the owner or occupant of the premises where the public nuisance is located.
3. Cause the town attorney to draft a formal civil complaint to be filed and served upon the alleged violators based upon an alleged violation of this ordinance or the conditions of any permit as issued or have drafted by the town attorney to be filed and served a formal complaint for abatement of the public nuisance under chapter 823, Wis. stats.
E. Other Methods Not Excluded. Nothing in this ordinance may be construed as prohibiting the injunction and abatement of public nuisances against any person, including against a permit holder that holds a current and valid permit issued by the town under this ordinance, by the town or its officials in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin or this ordinance.
SECTION XII – COSTS OF ABATEMENT OR DISPOSAL
In addition to any other penalty imposed by this ordinance for the erection, contrivance, creation, continuance, or maintenance of a public nuisance and violation of this ordinance, the cost of abatement of any public nuisance by the town may be collected under this ordinance or
s. 823.06, Wis. stats., as a debt or expense from the owner or occupant of the real property for causing, permitting, or maintaining the public nuisance. If notice to abate the nuisance has been given to the owner or occupant previously, the cost of abatement may be assessed against the real property for services rendered and incurred by the town to enjoin or abate the public nuisance as a special charge under
s. 66.0627, Wis. stats., unless paid earlier. If any vehicle, structure, equipment, implement, or appliance is abandoned or remains unclaimed in violation of this ordinance, the town board may proceed to declare this personal property abandoned and proceed to dispose of this personal property under
s. 66.0139, Wis. stats., by public auction or other means as determined in writing by the town board.
SECTION XIII – ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS
A. Penalties. 1. 1st Offense. Any person who violates this ordinance shall, upon conviction, forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $500 together with the costs of prosecution, and in default of payment of such forfeiture and costs of prosecution shall be imprisoned in the county jail until the forfeiture and costs are paid, but not exceeding 90 days.
2. Second and Subsequent Offenses; Penalty. Any person guilty of violating this ordinance or any person who has previously been convicted of a violation of this ordinance shall, upon conviction, forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for each offense, together with the costs of prosecution, and in default of payment of such forfeiture and costs of prosecution shall be imprisoned in the county jail until the forfeiture and costs of prosecution are paid, but not exceeding 6 months.
B. Separate Violations. Each day of violation of this ordinance constitutes a separate offense.
SECTION XIV – SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this ordinance that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are severable.
SECTION XV – EFFECTIVE DATE
This ordinance is effective on publication or posting.
The town clerk shall properly publish this ordinance as required under
s. 60.80, Wis. stats.
Adopted this ______ day of ________, 20__.
[Signatures of town board]
Attest: [Signature of town clerk]
Note: Towns may wish to adopt the following ordinance as an alternative to this provision regarding exotic animals.
Note: This form is complementary to the following form and it is suggested that towns adopt both:
STATE OF WISCONSIN
Town of ________
________ County
SECTION I - TITLE AND PURPOSE
The title of this ordinance is the Town of ________ Town Buildings Firearms Ordinance. The purpose of this ordinance is to prohibit the carrying of firearms within buildings that are owned, occupied, or controlled by the town.
SECTION II - AUTHORITY
SECTION III - ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE
This ordinance, adopted by a majority of the town board on a roll call vote with a quorum present and voting and proper notice having been given, prohibits the carrying of firearms within buildings that are owned, occupied, or controlled by the town and provides penalties, as provided in Section V.
SECTION IV - SUBDIVISION AND NUMBERING OF THIS ORDINANCE
This ordinance is divided into sections designated by uppercase Roman numerals. Sections may be divided into subsections designated by uppercase letters. Subsections may be divided into paragraphs designated by numbers. Paragraphs may be divided into subdivisions designated by lowercase letters. Subdivisions may be divided into subdivision paragraphs designated by lowercase Roman numerals. Reference to a “section,” “subsection,” “paragraph,” or “subdivision” includes all divisions of the referenced section, subsection, paragraph, or subdivision.
SECTION SECTION V - CARRYING FIREARMS IN TOWN BUILDINGS PROHIBITED
A. In this section, “carry” means to go armed with.
B. 1. Except as provided in paragraph 2, the carrying of firearms of in any part of any building owned, occupied, or controlled by the town, excluding any building or portion of a building under
s. 175.60 (16) (a), Wis. stats., is prohibited.
* The town shall provide notice to all actors not to enter or remain in the building while carrying a firearm as provided in paragraph 2.
2. The town clerk shall post and maintain in a prominent place near each the entrances to the part of each building to which the prohibition under paragraph 1 applies, a sign that is at least ____ inches by _____ inches** that states: “Entering or remaining in this building while carrying a firearm is a violation of state law and the Town of ______ Town Buildings Firearms Ordinance. Violators may be prosecuted.” If only a part of a building is subject to the prohibition in paragraph 1, the sign shall be modified so as to notify a reader that the carrying of a firearm within the applicable part of the building is prohibited. All signs shall be posted and maintained so that any individual entering the building can be reasonably expected to see the sign.
3. This subsection does not apply to a person who leases residential or business premises in the building or, if the firearm is in a vehicle driven or parked in the parking facility, to any part of the building used as a parking facility.
C.
No person may, while carrying a firearm, enter or remain in any part of a building that is owned, occupied, or controlled by the town, excluding any building or portion of a building under s.
175.60 (16) (a), if the town has notified the actor not to enter or remain in the building while carrying a firearm. This subsection does not apply to a person who leases residential or business premises in the building or, if the firearm is in a vehicle driven or parked in the parking facility, to any part of the building used as a parking facility.
SECTION VI - ENFORCEMENT
This ordinance may be enforced by any law enforcement officer authorized to enforce the laws of the state of Wisconsin and additionally as may be stated in a Town citation authority ordinance adopted per
s. 66.0113, Wis. stats.
SECTION VII - PENALTIES
The penalties under s.
943.13 (1m), Wis. Stats, are adopted by reference.
SECTION VIII - SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this ordinance that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are severable.
SECTION XV – EFFECTIVE DATE
This ordinance is effective on publication or posting.
The town clerk shall properly publish this ordinance as required under
s. 60.80, Wis. stats.
Adopted this ______ day of ________, 20__.
[Signatures of town board]
Attest: [Signature of town clerk]
Note: This form may be adapted to prohibit the carrying of only certain types of firearms and to apply to only specified town buildings or parts of town buildings, as allowed by
s. 943.13
, Wis. stats.
This form incorporates the language of
s. 943.13, Wis. stats., as close as possible. Section
943.13 does not apply to weapons other than firearms. Except to incorporate amendments to s.
943.13, alteration is not suggested. Under
s. 943.13 (1e) (aL)
, Wis. stats., “`Carry' has the meaning given in s.
175.60 (1) (ag).” Under
s. 175.60 (1) (ag), Wis. stats., “`Carry' means to go armed with,” and that definition is incorporated in this form.
Note:
Section 943.13 (2) (bm) 1., Wis. stats., requires the sign to be at least 5 inches by 7 inches.
